Options for surgical treatment of cervical fractures in patients with spondylotic spine: a case series and review of the literature

The surgical treatment of unstable cervical fractures is challenging for spinal surgeons. Unstable cervical fractures associated with spondyloarthropathy and deformities that alter function, form and stability present a greater challenge. Having multiple options to manage this difficult situation is...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of medical case reports 2015-10, Vol.9 (1), p.234-234, Article 234
Main Authors: Alves, Pedro Luz, Martins, Delio Eulalio, Ueta, Renato Hiroshi Salvioni, Del Curto, David, Wajchenberg, Marcelo, Puertas, Eduardo Barros
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Case Report
Cervical Vertebrae - diagnostic imaging
Cervical Vertebrae - injuries
Consent
Fracture fixation
Humans
Injuries
Joint Instability
Male
Medical imaging
Methods
Middle Aged
NMR
Nuclear magnetic resonance
Pain
Patients
Researchers
Spinal Fractures - diagnostic imaging
Spinal Fractures - surgery
Spondylitis, Ankylosing - complications
Surgery
Tomography
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Trauma
Vertebrae
White people
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Summary:The surgical treatment of unstable cervical fractures is challenging for spinal surgeons. Unstable cervical fractures associated with spondyloarthropathy and deformities that alter function, form and stability present a greater challenge. Having multiple options to manage this difficult situation is important to all spine surgeons and the results of each case depends on the singular characteristics of patients. The purpose of this case report is to describe the main forms of presentation of unstable cervical subaxial fractures in the spondylotic spine and their surgical treatments. We present three cases of Caucasian men aged 30, 53 and 59 years with spondylosis with unstable cervical fractures and alternatives choices for surgical treatment, and a review of the literature. Each patient underwent a different surgical procedure of the cervical subaxial spine using an isolated anterior, posterior or combined approach demonstrating good outcomes in all cases. The treatment of subaxial cervical spinal fractures is complex, and when these fractures are associated with the deformities caused by spondyloarthropathies they can be thought provoking for spine surgeons such as orthopedists or neurosurgeons. The isolated anterior, posterior and combined approaches are safe and effective for treating these pathologies.
ISSN:1752-1947
1752-1947
DOI:10.1186/s13256-015-0720-7